Specter

Author: Katie Jane Gallagher

Paperback: 370 pages

Publisher: Hidden Bower Press; 1st edition (July 7, 2019)

Language: English


ISBN-10: 0578508184

ISBN-13: 9780578508184

Stranger Things with a ghostly twist! A gripping, genre-bending debut about a girl suddenly beset by ghosts and demons.

Horror aficionado Lanie Adams should be thrilled when two eighties-era ghosts materialize in her bedroom. Yet after a fainting incident unbecoming of a horror nerd, she would rather her haunting just go away–the ghosts’ waterlogged voices and ice-cold auras are more terrifying than any movie. Enlisting the help of Ryan, an entirely-too-cute stoner, she makes it her mission to put the spirits stalking her to rest.

Some sleuthing reveals that their sleepy Connecticut town is host to a shadowy, decades-old conspiracy. If Lanie wants to say a final goodbye to her ghosts, she’ll need to keep digging. But it’s important to tread carefully. The culprit is still in town–and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

Perfect for fans of Stranger Things! With strong characters who are easy to root for, this stunning, multilayered debut will keep you holding your breath till the very last page.

What I thought: What a great story! I am a huge fan of Stranger Things and the blurb was right! From the getgo – Gallagher’s prose had me hooked. Lanie is your normal teen with a healthy obsession of horror. She is a strong character whose journey to not only solve this mystery, but making her way into adulthood was a pleasure. She is definitely a character who stuck with me long after the book finished. I look forward to reading more of Gallagher’s work!

The Quote: Nothing notable is supposed to happen on Tuesdays, let alone anything supernatural.

Why I chose it: The quote reminded me of another favorite from Douglas Adam’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – “This must be Thursday,’ said Arthur to himself, sinking low over his beer. ‘I never could get the hang of Thursdays.” Gallagher’s quote happens pretty early on in the story – and it was a good indication that I was going to have fun.

About the Author: 

Katie Jane Gallagher is the author of Specter and the serialized YA fantasy The Gold in the Dark. She is a life-long writer, and her stories feature relatable, realistic characters who get swept up in extraordinary events. An avid reader of YA and genre fiction, she has a self-proclaimed affinity for the best sorts of trash.

Born and raised in Illinois, Katie currently lives in Connecticut with her stupendous, half-human half-neanderthal husband and their dopey boxer dog. She graduated magna cum laude from Connecticut College in 2012, with a bachelor’s degree in Chinese language and literature and a minor in history.